Packing is important during silage storage in a bunker. High packing density will reduce dry matter as well as nutrient losses during ensiling, storage and feedout.

Here are some tops on proper bunker silo packing at harvest:

Silage Packing Time

• Ensure sufficient packing time relative to the chopped forage delivery rate in order to achieve maximum packing density.

• Packing time per ton is usually the highest (1-4 minutes per ton on a fresh basis) under low delivery rates (less than 30 tons per hour on a fresh basis).

• Packing time is generally less than 1 minute per ton (on fresh basis) at delivery rates higher than 60 tons per hour.

Forage Delivery Rate

• In order to find out the best total tractor weight to optimise packing: divide total tractor weight by 800 - this will determine the tons per hour of fresh silage that can be properly stacked.

• Example: a tractor with total weight of 40,000 lbs/800 = 150 tons of silage per hour can be properly stacked.

• To increase tractor weight, consider filling the tires with water or add weights to the tractor's front.

Forage Layer Thickness

• Chopped forage should be spread in thin layers - around 6 to 12 inches.

• If bunker silo is properly packed, the tires of the packing tractor should ideally passes through the entire surface before the next forage layer is distributed.

Mistakes To Avoid

• Harvest at the wrong moisture or maturity level.

• Poor feedout management.

• Not removing spoiled silage regularly.

• Insufficient packing.

• Not using inoculants correctly.